Create an Aerial Buffet for Swallows with These Gardening Tips
They thrill us with their precision and grace, swooping and diving above fields and waterways in pursuit of flying insects. Swallows, swifts, nightjars, and flycatchers are the aerial insectivores that keep bugs in check and wow us with their aerobatics. But they and their insect prey are in trouble—try these cultivation tips and help bring them back to yards, farms, and open spaces.
More Ideas for Managing Grasslands. If you manage a farm or other grassy property, check out this compendium of regional resources from the Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative.
Mystery bird by Prasod Prabhu / Macaulay Library.
What Bird Is This?
What color is this bird? Scarlet? Carmine? Ruby-red? Keep guessing...this stunning aerial insectivore brightens up open country in the southwestern U.S. through much of Central and South America. Watch for them on low perches at the edges of wetlands or stream corridors in otherwise dry areas. The genus name, Pyrocephalus, translates to "fire-headed." Can you name this bird?
Watch: A Day-Old Osprey's First Meal
From hovering to plunge-diving to the sky dancing of a courting male, Ospreys hold their own when it comes to airborne maneuvers. In this clip from the Hellgate Osprey Cam, however, tenderness is on display as the female patiently plucks fish pieces for a 5-day-old chick and its newly hatched sibling, just hours out of the egg. Peek in on Osprey family mealtime.
Song Sparrow by James Tornetta / Macaulay Library.
Sparrows Survive Cold Climes by Getting Tubby
Song Sparrows on Alaska's Aleutian Islands can be three times heavier than those around San Francisco. Recently, scientists discovered this extreme variability is written into the species' DNA—and it may help the species survive in a rapidly changing climate.
Allen’s Hummingbird by Gavin Aquila / Macaulay Library.
Share the Joy of Birds with a Loved One
Show you care for a loved one and for birds by giving the gift of Cornell Lab membership. They'll gain a deeper connection to birds and nature, and receive our award-winning quarterly magazine, Living Bird. Membership dues fuel the science that helps protect birds!
Bird News and Resources
Why Are Birds Important? The folks at Zeiss sat down with Amanda Rodewald, senior director of the Center for Avian Population Studies, to find out why she finds birds inspiring, enthralling, and informative.
Have You Seen Any of These "Lost" Birds? Scientists combed through 40+ million images and sounds to pinpoint 144 bird species from around the world that haven't been recorded in the past 10 years—a new way of identifying where to prioritize research and conservation work.
Congratulations, Christian Cooper—his irresistible mix of birding knowledge and infectious enthusiasm won Cooper an Emmy for Best Daytime Personality for his series "Extraordinary Birder." Read our Q&A with Cooper from 2023.
Attend a Bird Festival: Festivals are a great way to enjoy birds and meet like-minded people—check out our full listings.
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